Here is an idea
Can it possibly be so that individual soilder can loot a fallen soilder of the same unit type for new equipment?

Explanation of the idea:

Every solider begins with a random equipment pieces(they are limited to how meny equipment pieces they start with) and when they are killed one of those equipment pieces will be available for other soilder of the same unit type, who dosen't have the given equipment piece, to loot and equip it. The whole process would be automatic. The player would still be able to choose between resources and equipments. This ability could be exclusive to some race like for example: Orcs.